Fort Smith Regional Airport

KFSM / FSM

Fort Smith, US

Current TAF Forecast

Raw TAF:
TAF KFSM 150531Z 1506/1606 08008KT P6SM SCT180 SCT250 WS020/19040KT FM151600 17011KT P6SM SCT120 BKN150 PROB30 1516/1522 -SHRA BKN100 FM160200 12011KT P6SM SCT100 BKN150 WS020/18040KT

Detailed TAF Table

Parameter
Fri
10:00Z
+-1h
Fri
11:00Z
+0h
Fri
12:00Z
+1h
Fri
13:00Z
+2h
Fri
14:00Z
+3h
Fri
15:00Z
+4h
Fri
16:00Z
+5h
Fri
17:00Z
+6h
Fri
18:00Z
+7h
Fri
19:00Z
+8h
Fri
20:00Z
+9h
Fri
21:00Z
+10h
Fri
22:00Z
+11h
Fri
23:00Z
+12h
Sat
00:00Z
+13h
Sat
01:00Z
+14h
Sat
02:00Z
+15h
Sat
03:00Z
+16h
Sat
04:00Z
+17h
Wind Dir
80°
E
80°
E
80°
E
80°
E
80°
E
80°
E
80°
E
80°
E
80°
E
80°
E
80°
E
80°
E
80°
E
80°
E
80°
E
80°
E
120°
SE
120°
SE
120°
SE
Wind Speed
8 kt
8 kt
8 kt
8 kt
8 kt
8 kt
8 kt
8 kt
8 kt
8 kt
8 kt
8 kt
8 kt
8 kt
8 kt
8 kt
11 kt
11 kt
11 kt
Visibility
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
Weather
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
Light Showers Rain
-SHRA
30%
Light Showers Rain
-SHRA
30%
Light Showers Rain
-SHRA
30%
Light Showers Rain
-SHRA
30%
Light Showers Rain
-SHRA
30%
Light Showers Rain
-SHRA
30%
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
Clouds
SCT180
SCT250
SCT180
SCT250
SCT180
SCT250
SCT180
SCT250
SCT180
SCT250
SCT180
SCT250
BKN100
BKN100
BKN100
BKN100
BKN100
BKN100
SCT180
SCT250
SCT180
SCT250
SCT180
SCT250
SCT180
SCT250
SCT100
BKN150
SCT100
BKN150
SCT100
BKN150
Ceiling
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
10,000 ft
AGL
10,000 ft
AGL
10,000 ft
AGL
10,000 ft
AGL
10,000 ft
AGL
10,000 ft
AGL
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
15,000 ft
AGL
15,000 ft
AGL
15,000 ft
AGL
Flight Rules VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR
Day/Night
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
🌇 18:54Z
☀️
Day
🌇 18:54Z
☀️
Day
🌇 18:54Z
🌇
Dusk
🌇 18:54Z
🌙
Night
🌇 18:54Z
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
🌅 05:04Z
🌙
Night
🌅 05:04Z
Flight Rules
VFR: Visual Flight Rules
MVFR: Marginal VFR
IFR: Instrument Flight Rules
LIFR: Low IFR
Ceiling Colors
Red: < 500ft
Amber: 500-1000ft
Blue: 1000-3000ft
Green: > 3000ft
⛈️ TCU: Towering Cumulus
🌩️ CB: Cumulonimbus
+Nh: Hours from now • %: Probability of occurrence • AGL: Above Ground Level

Forecast Periods

BASE
VFR
Wind
80° at 8 kt
Visibility
>6SM
Clouds
SCT180 SCT250
📖 Plain English Explanation:

This is the base forecast condition. Winds from the East (80°) at 8 kt. Visibility will be excellent at more than 6SM. Scattered clouds at 18000 feet, Scattered clouds at 25000 feet. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

FM151600 16:00Z - 22:00Z
VFR
Wind
170° at 11 kt
Visibility
>6SM
Clouds
SCT120 BKN150
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Winds from the South (170°) at 11 kt. Visibility will be excellent at more than 6SM. Scattered clouds at 12000 feet, Broken clouds at 15000 feet. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

PROB30 16:00Z - 22:00Z
VFR
Weather
Light Showers Rain
Clouds
BKN100
📖 Plain English Explanation:

There is a 30% probability of: Weather conditions: Light Showers Rain. Broken clouds at 10000 feet. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

FM160200 02:00Z - 08:00Z
VFR
Wind
120° at 11 kt
Visibility
>6SM
Clouds
SCT100 BKN150
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Winds from the East-Southeast (120°) at 11 kt. Visibility will be excellent at more than 6SM. Scattered clouds at 10000 feet, Broken clouds at 15000 feet. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

📚 Understanding TAF Forecasts

Terminal Aerodrome Forecast (TAF) provides detailed weather forecasts specifically for aviation operations. Our system translates complex meteorological codes into plain English to help pilots of all experience levels understand forecasted conditions.

What TAF Includes:

  • • Wind direction, speed, and gusts
  • • Visibility in statute miles or kilometers
  • • Weather phenomena (rain, snow, fog, thunderstorms)
  • • Cloud coverage types and altitudes
  • • Forecast changes with timing
  • • Flight rules categories (VFR/IFR)

Change Indicators Explained:

  • • BASE - Main forecast conditions
  • • FM - Permanent change from specific time
  • • BECMG - Gradual change over 2-4 hours
  • • TEMPO - Temporary changes (less than 1 hour)
  • • PROB30/40 - 30% or 40% probability

🛩️ Flight Rules Categories

VFR

Visual Flight Rules

  • • Ceiling ≥ 3000 ft
  • • Visibility ≥ 5 miles
  • • Good for visual flying

MVFR

Marginal VFR

  • • Ceiling 1000-3000 ft
  • • Visibility 3-5 miles
  • • Caution for VFR

IFR

Instrument Flight Rules

  • • Ceiling 500-1000 ft
  • • Visibility 1-3 miles
  • • Instruments required

LIFR

Low IFR

  • • Ceiling < 500 ft
  • • Visibility < 1 mile
  • • Challenging conditions

💡 TAF Reading Tips

For Student Pilots:

  • • Focus on the plain English explanations above
  • • Pay attention to flight rules categories
  • • Look for wind direction relative to runway headings
  • • Check for temporary conditions (TEMPO)

For Experienced Pilots:

  • • Cross-reference with raw TAF for precise timing
  • • Consider probability forecasts for alternate planning
  • • Monitor BECMG periods for gradual changes
  • • Always check current METAR vs TAF forecast

Important: TAF forecasts should always be supplemented with current METAR observations, PIREPs, and other weather information for complete situational awareness. Weather can change rapidly, and forecasts have inherent limitations.